Job Description
The Category Manager, Fresh Foods is responsible for leading the strategy, development, and execution of fresh food products, programs, and initiatives that drive sales, margin growth, and overall category performance. This role requires hands‑on experience in fresh food product development, strong financial ownership, and a deep understanding of food safety and regulatory requirements. Up to 25% travel may be required.
What You’ll Do
Category Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, mentor, and develop the fresh foods category team, ensuring they have the tools, knowledge, and support needed to drive category growth.
- Prioritize and manage daily team activities, ensuring alignment with business goals.
Fresh Food Product Development
- Lead hands‑on development of fresh food items, including formulation, testing, packaging, quality evaluation, and commercialization.
- Partner with FSQA to ensure all products meet food safety standards, regulatory requirements, and operational feasibility.
- Support and manage recall processes, quality concerns, and compliance‑related initiatives.
Category Strategy, Pricing & Financial Ownership
- Own the category P&L, including pricing strategy, margin management, cost‑of‑goods structure, and promotional planning.
- Build and manage product assortments that align with consumer trends, operational capabilities, and financial targets.
- Analyze internal and external data to identify trends, refine strategies, and drive continuous improvement.
Vendor & Supplier Management
- Lead vendor negotiations, contract development, and supplier performance management.
- Resolve pricing discrepancies, manage rebates, and troubleshoot supplier issues.
- Build strong relationships with suppliers to drive innovation, cost optimization, and product quality.
Cross‑Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Operations, Marketing, Accounting, Business Analysis, FSQA, and other internal teams to execute category initiatives.
- Represent the category in cross‑functional meetings and lead ad‑hoc projects as needed.
Compliance & Industry Awareness
- Stay current on legislation, regulatory changes, and food safety requirements that impact fresh food products.
- Develop cost‑reduction strategies and savings plans in partnership with leadership.
What We’re Looking For
- Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred.
- 2–5 years of direct experience in fresh foods category management, including hands‑on product development and assortment strategy.
- Demonstrated ownership of category‑level P&L, including pricing, margin strategy, and cost‑of‑goods management.
- Working knowledge of FSQA standards, food safety regulations, and recall processes within a fresh food environment.
- Experience negotiating vendor contracts and managing supplier relationships in fresh or perishable goods.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex financial and operational data.
- Experience managing and developing others preferred.
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite; intermediate to advanced Excel skills preferred.
